The Pole will play in the final of the Australian Open. He is one step away from repeating the legendary successes

Many winners of the Grand Slam doubles competition proved that extensive experience in the game at the highest level and a teamwork developed over the years are not necessary to be successful in these prestigious competitions. Jan Zieliński is on his way to be another confirmation of this rule.

The 26-year-old tennis player starts in the Grand Slam only for the fifth time, and he has been playing with Nys, five years older, since March last year. They quickly caught on with each other, which resulted in some good results, including an autumn triumph in the ATP tournament in Metz. They were also doing well in the Grand Slam at that time, reaching m. to the quarterfinals of the US Open. But now at the Australian Open they are shining brightly.

Zieliński and Monakijczyk in Melbourne already have five duos on the schedule, including two seeded. They made a huge surprise in the round of 16 when they knocked out second seed Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, who had dominated the competition last season. Leading in the world ranking of the American and the British, who have, among others, three Grand Slam titles, defeated after the thriller 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2. They then followed suit, going through the next round as well.

On Thursday, they played on Center Court, and on the other side stood the experienced and more accomplished Chardy and Martin. In the first set, they managed to bounce back quite quickly – after the break, they led 3: 1. Then, usually without major problems, they won their own service games and – to the delight of the Poles cheering them loudly from the stands – they recorded the first set on their account.

The French were not going to give up easily and the fate of game number two was decided by a “break” in the last, 12th game. Zieliński and Nys defended twice, but folded on the third. In the decisive set, however, they left no doubt that they would play in the final. They started by winning four games in a row. The fans chanted “Janek, Hugo!” it took on a joyful sound again, and they encouraged even more celebration of their successful actions. After the last one, the Pole fell to his knees with joy.

Zielinski’s success was enjoyed by, among others, Agnieszka Radwańska and Łukasz Kubot sitting in his box. The latter may have helped Mariusz Fyrstenberg, who was training Zieliński, prepare tactics for this meeting, because in the past he often played in tandem with Chardy. The 40-year-old is also the last Pole to win the Australian Open. He did it in 2014 in tandem with Swede Robert Lindstedt. Earlier in Melbourne, Wojciech Fibak triumphed – also in doubles. In 1978, he was partnered with Australian Kim Warwick.

Nys is much more experienced than Zieliński, but he has never made the quarter-finals in the Grand Slam, and the 1/8 finals in the antipodes. In their debut final on Saturday, they will face eighth seeded Argentine Horacio Zeballos and Spaniard Marcel Granollers or Australians Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler. The latter were included in the cast thanks to the “wild card” granted by the organizers.